Alaska thermostat controls

Jim S · Post by **Jim S** » Mon. Dec. 26, 2022 1:33 pm

I have an Alaska 140 Dual Feed, with a dial T-stat box. When I put it to the test this frigid weekend, I found that it was nearly impossible to set to a full fire without runoff. At the higher settings, the dial is just too sensitive to fine-tune the feed. Will a digital box be more adjustable? Pros and cons to either? My basic experience over the years with simple vs digital, is simple is less prone to troubles. But I've found living on the crest of a hill with Sub-Zero widchills, I need all the heat she will put out.

LTStorm07 · Post by **LTStorm07** » Wed. Dec. 28, 2022 5:36 pm

Hey Jim welcome to the board. I can tell you the digital tstats are night and day difference. Give the coaltrol guys a call and they will get you setup. This is their post about their newest model they released.

New for 2022 - Coal-trol TS2BL Thermostat

Coaltrol is not partnered with Alaska like they do with other companies, but they should (Alaska doesn't want to I believe). Once you go with a coaltrol you'll never settle for less and always ask yourself why didn't I get one sooner. It'll allow you to run fire right to the edge of the gate, or idle it down so much that youd think it was out, but the fire is lit. Also allows you variably control the heat distribution blower.

Any questions they are happy to help you and feel free to post them here.

Jim S · Post by **Jim S** » Wed. Dec. 28, 2022 9:09 pm

Thanks, I will look into that!

WNY · Post by **WNY** » Thu. Dec. 29, 2022 9:33 am

Ive had a coaltrol for almost 15 years on my Leisure Line and works really good. maintains good temp. I don't use set back or anything, just keep it at a constant temperature. i might bump it up 1 or 2 degrees if it gets really cold to keep up, since our old 1890 house leaks quite a bit.

Pauliewog · Post by **Pauliewog** » Thu. Dec. 29, 2022 10:38 am

Jim S wrote: ↑
Mon. Dec. 26, 2022 1:33 pm
I have an Alaska 140 Dual Feed, with a dial T-stat box. When I put it to the test this frigid weekend, I found that it was nearly impossible to set to a full fire without runoff. At the higher settings, the dial is just too sensitive to fine-tune the feed. Will a digital box be more adjustable? Pros and cons to either? My basic experience over the years with simple vs digital, is simple is less prone to troubles. But I've found living on the crest of a hill with Sub-Zero widchills, I need all the heat she will put out.

Hi Jim, Welcome to the forum.
With a few more details hopefully we can point you in the right direction.

I'm running a dual paddle feed 140 for the past 10 years or so, heating appropriately 4,000 sf. located in North Eastern Pennsylvania.

Alaska had a number of controls thru the years. Mine is a two dial thermostat control.

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The coaltrol is definitely the nicest control I ran across, but once my Alaska control was tuned in, it keeps my entire home built in the 70's within 2*.

A few pictures of your installation, your location, and some details on the size and layout of your house will definitely help us get you on the right track.

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Paulie

Jim S · Post by **Jim S** » Thu. Dec. 29, 2022 5:35 pm

Pauliewog wrote: ↑
Thu. Dec. 29, 2022 10:38 am
Hi Jim, Welcome to the forum.
With a few more details hopefully we can point you in the right direction.

I'm running a dual paddle feed 140 for the past 10 years or so, heating appropriately 4,000 sf. located in North Eastern Pennsylvania.

Alaska had a number of controls thru the years. Mine is a two dial thermostat control.Screenshot_20221229_102951_Gallery.jpg

The coaltrol is definitely the nicest control I ran across, but once my Alaska control was tuned in, it keeps my entire home built in the 70's within 2*.

A few pictures of your installation, your location, and some details on the size and layout of your house will definitely help us get you on the right track.
Screenshot_20221229_102910_Gallery.jpgScreenshot_20221229_103007_Gallery.jpgScreenshot_20221229_103104_Gallery.jpg

Paulie

I'm in Central NY, in a 1866 3000sqft farmhouse on an open hill. I have a similar t-stat box as yours. I don't feel my issue is with performance, just adjustability. At the setting on the dial there, my burn is about 2" from the edge. If I increase it about the width of the line on the dial, it's burning over the edge.

Jim S · Post by **Jim S** » Thu. Dec. 29, 2022 5:52 pm

WNY wrote: ↑
Thu. Dec. 29, 2022 9:33 am
Ive had a coaltrol for almost 15 years on my Leisure Line and works really good. maintains good temp. I don't use set back or anything, just keep it at a constant temperature. i might bump it up 1 or 2 degrees if it gets really cold to keep up, since our old 1890 house leaks quite a bit.

I priced the Coaltrol, and question the value over what I have. Mine does maintain an even temp fairly well. My issue came when the windchill was -10 to -15. I didn't have my high-fire set as high as I could, and it didn't quite keep up. When I tried to get the maximum burn, I just couldn't get it dialed in. It was either 2 inches from the edge, or going over. There is a digital version of what I have, for about half the money of Coaltrol

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Pauliewog · Post by **Pauliewog** » Thu. Dec. 29, 2022 6:06 pm

Try turning your low timer up a bit and your high timer down to where it was before it pushed the burning coals off the edge.

Paulie

Jim S · Post by **Jim S** » Thu. Dec. 29, 2022 6:19 pm

Pauliewog wrote: ↑
Thu. Dec. 29, 2022 6:06 pm
Try turning your low timer up a bit and your high timer down to where it was before it pushed the burning coals off the edge.

Paulie

I don't think you're understanding what I'm trying to achieve. I want to be able to the burn to its maximum level, which from all I have read should be about an inch from the edge. I know to get the most consistency in my heat, I need to get the idle fire dialed appropriately for the weather. That's going to take some practice. I've been making notes of outside temps and settings of low, high, and also where my circulation blower needs to be set. That runs full time, which I like, and on a rheostat. Hotter the fire, the higher I set that. So far, with exception of last Saturday AM, I haven't seen the temperature lower or higher than where my thermostat is set.

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Sun. Jan. 01, 2023 9:53 pm

Jim S wrote: ↑
Thu. Dec. 29, 2022 6:19 pm
I don't think you're understanding what I'm trying to achieve. I want to be able to the burn to its maximum level, which from all I have read should be about an inch from the edge. I know to get the most consistency in my heat, I need to get the idle fire dialed appropriately for the weather. That's going to take some practice. I've been making notes of outside temps and settings of low, high, and also where my circulation blower needs to be set. That runs full time, which I like, and on a rheostat. Hotter the fire, the higher I set that. So far, with exception of last Saturday AM, I haven't seen the temperature lower or higher than where my thermostat is set.

Post by sj33x - Controls on New Alaska 140 W/Thermostat

Black_And_Blue · Post by **Black_And_Blue** » Mon. Jan. 02, 2023 10:48 am

These settings work for my application, single burner paddle feed Alaska 140 :

Alaska thermostat controls

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